Study of the Hydraulic Performance Parameters of the Drip Irrigation System at Various Operating Pressures

Abstract

Background: Drip irrigation system is one of the best water application methods that have been used in the world among the other irrigation methods because of its upright and high uniformity and high-water use efficiency. Hydraulic performance evaluation is widely accepted for the evaluation of overall uniformity of a drip irrigation system. Methods: In an experimental study carried out at School of Engineering, RK University, Rajkot; hydraulic performance evaluation parameters viz., Pressure discharge relationship, Christiansen’s uniformity coefficient (CU), manufacturing coefficient of variation (CVm) and emission uniformity (EU) of non-pressure compensating emitters were calculated for 2 lph inline and 2 lph, 4 lph, 8 lph online emitter at various operating pressure of 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 kg/cm2 as per American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASAE) standards. Result: The study concluded that rated discharge of the emitter can be obtained at the operating pressure of 1.0 kg/cm2. Pressure discharge relationship revealed that discharge of the emitter upsurges as pressure rises. CU and EU were more than 95% for all the cases and they were maximum at 1.0 kg/cm2. CVm was less than 0.0200 for all the cases and it was minimum at 1.0 kg/cm2. Study concludes that all the parameter viz., CU, EU and CVm were excellent and very good categories for all emitters as per American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASAE) standards.